Page 15 of Need You To Choose Me

It’s fine. I can do this. I can totally do this.

Since Bluebonnet Creek is a minuscule town, there is only one school that’s divided by different grades, something that goes in my favor right about now.

“Don’t cause any trouble,” I glance toward Daniel as I pull in front of the high school, but he’s too busy typing away on his phone to pay me any attention. “Dan?—”

“Yeah.” He locks his phone and opens the door. “Whatever.”

“I’ll see you”—he slips out and shuts the door behind himself—“later.”

Running my fingers through my hair, I watch Daniel walk into the school, not once looking back. Letting my hand drop, I put my truck into drive and make my way to the parking lot.

Since we are running seriously late, I walk Levi into school. The security guard takes my information and gives me instructions on how to get to Levi’s classroom. With a nod in thanks, I place my hand on his back and urge him forward.

“What if they don’t like me?” Levi asks, his voice so soft it’s barely audible.

I look down to find the first traces of uncertainty written on his face.

Shit.

Screw being late; making sure my son was okay will always be the most important thing. I place my hand on his shoulder and crouch down so we’re on the same level. Levi bites the inside of his cheek and glances down at his feet.

Am I doing the right thing?

The question that’s been haunting me for the last few months comes back to the forefront of my mind.

While Daniel started to talk back and lash out after his mom left, Levi did the complete opposite. He closed off, became more uncertain, and a little bit clingy when it came to me. It was as if he thought that I would do the same thing. I figured retiring and moving to a new place—a smaller, more family-oriented place—would be the solution, but what if I was wrong? What if this move ends up bringing more anxiety to my kids?

Fuck, this single-parent thing is hard.

“Levi, look at me,” I say gently. Pushing back my own insecurities, I wait for him to lift his head and face me. “Where is this coming from?”

“I don’t know anybody. What if they don’t like me?”

“It’s the first day. First grade. Nobody knows anybody.” This was a stretch considering the size of this town, but what was a little white lie if it was going to make him feel better? “Besides, you’re a cool kid. They’d be silly not to like you. And you’ll see Gage later at recess. You liked playing with Gage, right?”

Miguel and his brother Aaron helped me move some furniture this past weekend, while Mrs. Fernandez and Rebecca watched the kids. Miguel’s fiancée was heavily pregnant and due in a few weeks, and Miguel was spending more time here than in Austin these days, not wanting to risk a chance of her going into labor without him there.

“I did.” Levi nods. “Why can’t I be in class with him?”

I chuckle softly. “Because he’s a year older than you, buddy.”

“Well, I wanna be older.” Levi purses his lips, which only makes me laugh harder. “Then I could be in the same class with Gage.”

“And just this morning you were saying you don’t want to go to school.” I shake my head. “C’mon, let’s get you to class.” Pushing upright, I slide my hand over his back, giving him a reassuring rub as we continue walking down the hallway. “I’ve heard you have a really nice teacher. Her name is Miss Parker, and apparently, she’s the best in the whole town.”

Levi looks up at me. “Is she?”

“That’s what the lady at the office said.”

“Is she old? Mrs. Andrews was old, and she was mean.”

Mrs. Andrews was his kindergarten teacher last year, and to say he didn’t like her would be an understatement.

“I don’t know, buddy. I didn’t get a chance to meet Miss Parker. But if people say she’s the best, I would hope there is a reason for it, right?”

“I guess so.”

“How about this? You be brave and go in there, and when I pick you up from school later today, we’ll go to Scoops for ice cream. What do you say? Do we have a deal?”

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